The Firm

The Firm were a rock group comprising ex-Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, former Bad Company singer Paul

The Firm were a rock group comprising ex-Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, former Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers, ex-Uriah Heep drummer Chris Slade, and Roy Harper bass player Tony Franklin. Formed in 1984, the band—although having a distinguished pedigree (and thus qualifying as a supergroup)—had only mediocre album sales, although they did have sellout tours. Page originally wanted former Yes drummer Bill Bruford and fretless bass virtuoso Pino Palladino in the group; however, Bruford was contracted to another label and Palladino had tour commitments with singer Paul Young.

Both Page and Rodgers refused to play any material from their former bands and instead opted for a selection of songs from both their solo albums and new songs which were heavily infused with a soulful and more commercially accessible sound, courtesy of Franklin's fretless bass guitar underpinning and understated song structure. In subsequent press interviews, Page had indicated that the band was never meant to last more than two albums. After the band split, Page and Rodgers returned to solo work while Chris Slade joined AC/DC and Franklin teamed up with guitarist John Sykes in Blue Murder.